Water pump & well pump electrical power - main switch questions & answers.:

This article series describes how to find the main power switch on a well pump or water pump. In an emergency you may need to turn this switch off to avoid costly damage to the pump motor or its controls or to avoid an unsafe condition.

Water Pump Switch Questions & Answers

These questions and answers about the power switch to turn a well pump or water pump OFF or ON were posted originally

at WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES - be sure to go through the advice given there.

On 2018-11-26 by Burney - where is the pump power switch?

Where is the breaker switch for a well pump generally located?

On 2018-11-26 by (mod)

Burney

There is usually a power switch at the pressure tank / pressure control switch in a utility room or sometimes in a well pit

and the circuit breaker for the pump circuit will usually be in the main electrical panel

On 2018-10-29 by Albert - pump won't shut off

my pump turns on at 40, however the pressure doesn't build up to 60 to allow the pump to shut off. The pressure actually drops below 40 and the pump continues to run.

On 2018-10-30 by (mod)

Albert

See the diagnosis and repair advice at

WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

I suspect a leak

On 2018-07-04 by Jay Jennings - We lost our water pressure: help?

We have just lost our water pressure - no water. We have a outside wellhouse at our farm house and the pressure gage is showing about 15. I can't find any water standing anywhere, so figure either a pump problem or an electrical problem

I haven't found a reset button, and don't know what to do. HELP!
Appreciate your kind attention.

Reply by (mod)

At NO WATER PRESSURE

you'll find the diagnostic steps to take to determine what's wrong.

At WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES - home - we tell you where all of the well pump controls and switches are located.

There *might* be a reset lever on your pressure control switch - described

at  CHECK RESET SWITCH / BYPASS LEVER (not present on all controls)

and at WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES  we help you find the electrical power switch for your well pump (don't forget also to check the electrical panel circuit breaker or fuse that powers your pump)

How do we add a shutoff valve to our cattle waterer?

We live in the country and have an outside cattle waterer that is leaking.

We thought we had it shut off several years ago,
but now it is leaking by inside the waterer.

We're using 4000 gal. of water a day and we normally use half that much.

How can I shut off the water to the cattle waterer. Thanks. - On 2018-02-15 by Joyce -

Reply by (mod) - How to find the water shutoff valve or use another method to turn off water in an emergency

Joyce,

Follow the waterer supply pipes back to the source, looking for a normal water shutoff valve that is already installed.

If there is only one shutoff valve and that valve is not closing off the water supply, then follow further back to find where turn off ALL of your water supply.

You'll have to turn off all water, then repair or replace the bad shutoff valve to the waterer.

I've seen other tricks that work in an emergency, depending on the type of piping, such as cutting, crimping over, and bending shut copper water pipes, or sawing through a pipe and hammering in a wooden cork as a temporary emergency measure.

Some plumbers also use freon and actually freeze a water line long enough to permit installation of a shutoff valve or cap.

Finally, if you can find one locally, there are add-on emergency shutoff valves that can be added to a water line whose water you can't otherwise shut off, such as the Jomar Add-A-Valve shown here.

Jomar Add-A-Valve Co.: Web: http://www.jomarvalve.com/ Tel: 1-800-325-5690

On 2018-01-16 by Anonymous - how do I turn off the water pump and solar pump motor?

Water heater tank failed, leaks water shut off power and water supply tank is dry. This system is hooked up to a solar system there's a pump motor above water heater how do I turn this off breaker to water tank off

On 2018-01-16 by (mod) -

If there is no service switch at the pump, find the pump circuit in the electrical panel and turn that off. Or just switch breakers off one by one until the pump stops.

On 2017-12- by Ozzy - After I turned off my well pump it won't come back on

I turned water off to underground well pump to fix a crack in my toilet went to turn back on and still have no water idk what to do help?

On 2017-12-19 by FH

Ozzy

Sometimes when there is a failed foot valve in the well or check valve at the pump, when the pump is left off for a time water drains back into the well and the pump loses prime.

Try re-priming the system. If that returns water (or if you can't prime because water runs so rapidly down into the well) then I suspect I've guessed correctly.

On 2016-10-27 by FH - plumber says there's no circuit breaker for our well pump system - how do we find it?

Had plumbing repairs today. Plumber mentioned there was no breaker for our well pump and pressure switch. He tried every breaker and the only way to cut power was to trip main breaker.

I was wondering if this is possible or did he likely miss the breaker. Unfortunately only a few breakers are labeled. I did not identify any other remote breaker boxes or switches close to our tank or well outside.

Are there any other tricks to maybe quickly identifying the proper breaker? (I.E. common amps etc.). All double breakers are accounted for.

I plan to take a Saturday afternoon and map our fuse box soon.

On 2016-10-28 by (mod) -

FH

Watch out: if you turned off every circuit breaker in your electrical panel and the well pump never lost power then you are describing a very dangerous situation:

In that case I suspect that one or more of your circuit breakers stays "ON" internally even when switched to the OFF position.

Brands such as Pushmatic, Challenger, Zinsco, FPE and some others might have this trouble.

The risk is that someone is killed by electrocution after thinking they've turned power off while it actually remains on while working on an electrical circuit or device.

it's time to ask for help from a licensed electrician.

On 2016-10-28 by FH

Thanks for your reply.

The inevitable need to call electrician inspired me to map out the 20A fuses tonight.

It seems the plumber plugged his "breaker beeping device" (sorry don't know all the lingo) into an outlet box that contains the conduit to the well.

However those outlets only supply the sump pump and the well had its own dedicated breaker adjacent to the sump pump breaker.

Needless to say when the beeping stopped the pump still kicked in, and when the well breaker was tripped the beeping still occurred. I assume time is of the essence with him and he decided to play the safe route and trip the main.

I will keep in mind the potential for some breakers not to completely cut off. My panel is made by Eaton which I hope is a better brand.

Thanks again for your help.

On 2016-10-28 by (mod) -

Although your well may have a dedicated breaker/switch right by the pump, power has to be brought from your main elecrical panel to that pump location and switch.

So there should be a breaker in the panel that allows you to turn off that circuit. Else that wire is not properly protected.

About the brand you cite: Eaton is a Cutler Hammer brand with which I've had and heard only good experience. I'm not aware of a "No trip" problem reported for Eaton breakers.

On 2016-10-23 by Anonymous- why would there be no electricity to my water pump control?

What would cause no electricity going to water pressure tank

On 2016-10-24 by (mod) -

A tripped circuit breaker;

A pump protection switch turns off the pump because the pump was running dry;

A broken or shorted wire.

A damage pump control switch.

On 2016-03-18 by Dave - Can I use a double pole switch to power my well pump that only uses 120V?

I have separate fuse panel with off and on switch and its rusted. I have a new double pole switch can I use this to replace old single pole and if so how is it wired

On 2016-03-18 by (mod) -

You could wire just one side of the double-pole switch, provided it has a common internal trip mechanism, but I wouldn't do so. I'd replace all of the rusted components.

On 2015-08-13 by paul - My water pump stopped working - I don't know what to do.

My water pump is not working. I dont know if electrical problems. What should I do?

On 2015-08-17 by (mod) -

Paul,

Start with the diagnostic steps at NO WATER PRESSURE

Our complete seet of articles is at WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE

On 2015-04-0 by Dick - F & W water pump will not shut off when it comes up to pressure

The F & W water pump will not shut off when it comes up to pressure. I tap it lightly on the conductor box and it shuts off. How do I fix it

Reply by (mod) -

Dick

That symptom usually means that the pressure sensor port on your water pump pressure control switch is clogged - best is to replace that switch.

That control is described

at WATER PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH, PUMP - home

If you need more help, we have a diagnostic article for water pumps that won't shut off - in ARTICLE INDEX see

WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

please let me know if after reading that you have more questions

Question: got a shock touching the water pump

(June 15, 2014) Anonymous said:
electric shok on the body of water pump

Reply:

Anon

Watch out: as doubtless you realize, if you got a shock by touching a water pump then the pump wiring has an internal short to the pump body and is VERY DANGEROUS - risking even death.

Turn the equipment off immediately and hire a professional electrician to find and fix the trouble, or replace the pump, control, or wiring that is at fault.

Question: DAB Smart Press short cycling

DAB Smart Press goes on and off every 15 seconds-no leaks (June 18, 2014) Anonymous said:

Reply:

Anon

At the ARTICLE INDEX at the end of this article see

WATER PUMP,SHORT CYCLING

For diagnosis and repair of the problem you describe.

Most water pumps can be turned off electrically at two locations: a switch located near the water pump or tank, and at the building's electrical panel.

...

Continue reading at WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH
• WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR to diagnose pressure switch problems or to replace the pressure switch contact relay parts or diaphragm.

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

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